Pressing pads



April 1961 R. F. SEELENBINDER 2,981,016

PRESSING PADS Filed June 18, 1958 F, E 35 I 3 37 INVENTOR.

ROBERT F. SEELENBI NDER MW v ATTORNEY United States Pate The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to metallic fabric and metallic pads made therefrom and to methods of forming suchmetallic fablie and metallic pads. Such metallic pads are used for a variety of purposes including pads for cushioning, pads for filters, pads for cleaning, bufiing and finishing, pads for sound deadening, pads for space filling and many' other purposes. My invention applies to all types of such metallic pads. However, for the purpose of illustration my invention is illustrated by 'a'metallic pressing pad formed according to my invention andby apparatus for forming such a pad according to the methods of my invention.

Metal pad are in general use for a variety of purposes including such uses as cleaning, buffing, finishing, filtering, sound insulation, etc. Another important use of such pads is to provide a resilient surface for support of clothes being pressed upon the conventional type of clothes pressing machines wherein the pad conforms in shape to and is positioned on the buck of the pressing machine and affords the requisite support to the garment being pressed under the action of the presser head, metallic pads being well adapted therefor because of their elasticity, heat conducting qualities, andresistance to deterioration under influence of heat and pressure. It has; however usuallybeen considered necessary or desirable to stitch the pads with wire or clips in order to hold the pads in shape. It has also usually been considered necessary to provide a marginal binding or covering of asbestos cloth or metallic or non-metallic binding or covering material.

One object of my invention is the provision of a new andim'prov'ed form of metallic fabric.

A further object of-my invention is the provision of anew method of-forming such metallic pads.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision of, an improved form of pad which will be highlyresilie'nt' aswell as porous so thatsteammay pass therethrough, and which will not be. subject to rapid deterioration by heat, pressure or otherwise.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a metal pad which can be formed simply and cheaply but which will retain both itssha'pe and resiliency for long A further object of my invention is the provision of 'a metal pad which is naturally resilient and naturally retains its shapev and which has 'n'atural selvage edges.

A further. more specific object 'isto provide animprove'd form of metalliclcushionjor pad which is highly V resilient, of high efficiency and durability, is cheap in con- 1 Istruction, is highlyresistant'to heatan'd other deteriorating Other objects and advantages of my invention will apmetal stock and a pair oflateral bars 24 and'25 of flat.

i as at 26, 27, 28 and 29. The lateral bars may be fastened.

pear from the followingdescription and claims and from V 2 the accompanying drawings illustrating specific embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a planview of a specific embodiment comprising a pressing pad constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section takensubstantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of an apparatus for performinga method of my invention in the forming of the spe- -cific-pad illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is asimilar view in plan to Fig.3 showing the same apparatus being used for the performanceof the first part of the method referred to; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view in plan of the apparatus of Fig. 3 being-used in performing a later step in the method referred to in Fig. 4.

Referring again to the drawings for a detailed description of the embodiments of my invention illustrated, I have shown in Fig. 1 a pad for a pressing machine, the pad being designated generally 11, being of a generally trapezoid shape, and being formedof a plurality of longitudinal windings such as '12 overlaid by a plurality of lateral windings such as 13. The windings 12 are of metallic ribbon wound in laterally aligned spiral convolutions and form a substantially flat core 16 (Fig. 2). The windings 13 are also formed of a metallic ribbon wound in laterally aligned spirally convolutions and form a cover 19 for the flat core 16. The windings 13 are wound generally perpendicular to the direction of the windings 12. Metallic ribbon forming the windings of the pad may be any form of metallic wool; wire mesh (woven or knitted); sprayed metal fibres; drawn metal fibres; perforated or expaned metal strip or foil; or any other similar metallic material. Strands of metallic wool such as the rovings of metallic wool illustrated as the strands 4 of my Patent 2,192,590, issued March 5, 1940, are quite satisfactory. Such strands consist of rovings of fibres as they come from a metallic wool making machine. The drawings are intended to show such strands'but only for the purpose of illustration. The longitudinal ribbons 13 (strands or rovings) are wound spirally in convolutions around the fiat core laterally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the windings 12. The strands forming the longitudinal windings of the core 16 and the strands forming the lateral windings of the cover 19 are, as stated, strands of metallic ribbon. Moreover, I prefer that these strands be pre-formedas for instance by being passed through funnel shaped guides or dies so that the strands are relatively flat, thin and wide ribbons of metallic rovings. However, this is often unnecessary. For'instance rovings of metallic wool as they came from the wool making machines are normally pulled ally of the pad and the cover be formed by winding the outer rovings around the core longitudinally thereof.

As stated above, the method of my invention maybe performed withoutany apparatus ortools. However, I

have found it more convenient to perform it with the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3-, 4' and 5. The apparatus illustrated in Figs. ,3, 4 andKS comprises a-frame 21 con sisting of a pair of longitudinal :bars 22 and 23 .of fiat metal stock fastened to the longitudinal bars 22 and 23 to the longitudinal bars in any convenient manner as by the removal of the frame.

bolts, snap fasteners, screws, etc. I prefer, however, to use snap fasteners and have so shown the snap fasteners 26, 27, 28 and 29. Formed in the longitudinal bars 22 and 23 are a pair of openings 31 and 32 in which there are'removably but securely fastened spindles 33 and 34 mounted in bearings 35 and 36. The spindle 34 has means for turning attached thereto. I prefer that this means shall be a motor, but for convenience of illustration, have shown the means for turning the apparatus as r a handle 37. The bars 24 and 25 are also formed with similar holes 38 and 39. In so performing the method with the illustrated apparatus, I attach the spindles 33 and 34 in the openings 31 and 32, mount the spindles in the bearings 35 and 36, secure a single long strand 14 of metallic ribbon and secure it removably in any convenient manner as at to the frame 21. Then by rotating the handle 37 and by means thereof rotating the frame 21, the strand 14 is wound on the frame and specifically upon the flat bar members 24 and 25 in parallel convolute windings so as to form a substantially flat core 16. After the core 16 is completed, the end of the strand 14 is cut, the spindles 33 and 34 are withdrawn from the holes 31 and 32, the frame 21 is turned through 90", the spindles 33 and 34 are inserted in the openings 38 and 39, and the spindles are positioned in bearings 35a and 36a. Another long winding or strand or roving of metallic ribbon 17 is thereupon in any convenient manner removably secured as at 18 onto the frame 21 and by rotating the handle 37 and the spindles 33 and 34 together with the frame 21, a flat cover 19 of metallic ribbon is wound in substantially parallel convolute, windings upon the core 16. The end of the strand 17 is then cut. The frame 21 is then removed as for example, by removing the fasteners 26, 27, 28 and 29. If preferred, the ends 41,

'42, 4s, 44, 4s, 46, 47 and 48 may be eliminated from the frame members 22, 23, 24 and 25 so as to facilitate However, the ends, portions 41-48 inclusive, aid in retaining the windings upon the frame during the forming process.

No wire stitching is required to hold my improved pad in shape. However, if desired, one or both of the open ends 51 and 52 of the cover 19 could be stitched so as to prevent any unravelling thereof and to prevent any 'possible slipping of the core lengthwise of the cover. I

consider such stitching unnecessary.

As illustrated, the pad is in trapezoid form. However,

if it is desired that the pad be formed in a difierent shape,

as for example, in slightly oval or curved form, the rods 22, 23, 24 and 25 may be shaped correspondingly. The rods 22, 23, 24 and 25 are preferably formed of fiat metal stock inasmuch as the fiat shape retains the windings better.

Thus the invention comprises a metallic pad 11, which is formed of two continuous strands 14 and 17 of metallic ribbon without benefit of any rigid core armature such as has often heretofore been used in such pads as for instance as shown in the patents to Galvin 2,016,713, Nieniann 2,139,033, and Rosenthal 2,242,326. Such rigid cores tend to reduce the resiliency of the pad and to promote premature disintegration of the pads fibres. Moreover, my pad made entirely of resilient strands is cheaper to construct and use and has greater resiliency than prior .pads of such nature.

propriate size and resiliency is thus formed, the finished 2,981,016 p u p 4 coil is removed from the spindles as a unit and positioned intermediate another pair of spindles spaced apart an appropriate distance to correspond to the width of the proposed pad with the individual windings of the core arranged substantially parallel to the second pair of spindles. A strand ofmetallic ribbon corresponding to the strand 17 is then wound in coil configuration about the second pair of spindles and about the previously wound core to form a covering for the core and thus to form a completed pad. When the completed pad is thus formed on 'the second pair of spindles, the second pair of spindles are removed individually by sliding them longitudinally from the finished pad.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of my invention are for the purpose of illustration only and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim: 6

1. A pliable laminated'elongated pressing padding material comprising superposed strata of metallic wool, the inner strata consisting of a strand of metallic filaments spirally wound in juxtapositioned convolutions .into a substantially flat pad and forming a core of said padding material and the outer strata consisting of a strand of metallic filaments spirally wound in juxtapositioned convolutions around said core in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the windings of said core into a cover .for the core so as to form a substantially flat padding material, the loops of the windings forming relatively smooth edges at both the ends and sides.

2. A shaped substantially flat pressing pad of metal fabric comprising a substantially fiat core formed by a metallic ribbon, wound in laterally aligned juxtaposi- 35.

. formed by a metallic ribbon wound around said core in tioned spiral convolutions and a cover for said core laterally aligned juxtapositioned spiral convolutions having its strands directed perpendicularly to the direction in which the strands of the metallic ribbon of the core are wound, the loops of the windings forming relatively smooth edges at both the ends and the sides.

3. A shaped substantially flat resilient pressing pad ,formed entirely of strands of metal ribbon consisting of one strand of metal ribbon wound in laterally aligned adjacent convolutions longitudinally of said pad and forming the core of said pad and a second strand of metal ribbon wound around said core in laterally aligned adjacent convolutions laterally of said pad and forming the covering of said core, the loops of the windings forming relatively smooth edges at both the ends and the sides.

4. A tapered substantially flat pressing pad of metal fabric comprising a substantially fiat core formed substantially in the shape of a trapezoid by a metallic ribbon wound longitudinally in laterally aligned adjacent spiral convolutions and a cover for said core formed also substantially in the shaped the said trapezoid by a metallic ribbon wound around said core in laterally aligned adjacent spiral convolutions having its strands directed perpendicularly tothe direction in which the strands of the metallicribbon of the core are, wound.

References Cited in the'file ofthis patent p} UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,749

Schmidt Nov. 19, 1935 2,061,046 Schmidt Nov. 17, 1936 2,172,767 Levine et al. Sept. 12, 1939 2,192,590 Seelenbinder Mar. 5, 1940 2.284.136 Crary- May 26, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 176,587 iswitzerland July 1, 1935 90.442 Sweden Oct. 5, 

